NZ's oldest burial site risks being swallowed by the sea

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-07-10 03:00

New Zealand

Photo: Kevin L. Jones

One of Aotearoa New Zealand’s earliest archaeological sites is at risk of being inundated by rising sea levels from climate change. About 20% of the heritage land at Te Pokohiwi o Kupe | Wairau Bar in the Marlborough region is currently at risk of being flooded by a 100-year storm-wave. However that fraction rises to 75% with the predicted sea level rise of the next 50-100 years. The site at Te Pokohiwi o Kupe | Wairau Bar dates back to the early 1300s, containing the earliest known graves in the country, some belonging to first-generation Polynesian settlers.

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Research Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, Web page Link to paper

Other Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, Web page Full MAI Journal climate change special issue

Journal/
conference: MAI Journal

Organisation/s: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Massey University, Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau Trust

Funder: This research was enabled through collaboration between Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau Trust and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research | Taihoro Nukurangi via Strategic Science Investment Fund Project Nos. CAVA2501, CARH2505 and TKNC2505.

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